THE vital role that the Furness Line can play in the economic growth of the area has been high-lighted to a Government minister.

A delegation of politicians and campaigners presented the case for the line to Liberal Democrat Baroness Kramer in Westminster.

The Baroness is a minister at the Department of Transport.

The meeting was prompted by continued fears that the Barrow to Manchester line is being downgraded as electrification takes place elsewhere in the north west.

The delegation which included Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock and representatives from the Keep Our Future Afloat campaign, Furness Enterprise and the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, emphasised that:

l Passenger services to Manchester and its airport need to be retained and improved

l Rolling stock needs to be modernised to improve passenger journeys

l Electrification or dual electric/diesel services need to be introduced

l Furness needs better rail connectivity so it can fully exploit £4bn of investment due over the next seven years

The minister welcomed the thrust offered by KOFAC, unions, Cumbria LEP and Mr Woodcock and noted that there had been a 27 per cent increase in passenger numbers using Barrow over the last four years.

She acknowledged a need to address rail rolling stock quality and improve passenger journey experiences as part of the next franchise bid round.

The minister also said she was looking forward to seeing the results of the recent Cumbria Better Connected camp-aign into rail provision.

Comments

Grumpyoldbiker
5:20am Wed 14 May 14

From The Westmoreland Gazette 21/03/1903. (Book of The Century).
The Furness Railway and Electricity.
Mr McKechnie, Managing Director of Engineering Department of Vickers, Sons and Maxim's Works lectured on Wednesday night at Barrow, on Modern engineering. He stated that. Electricity would replace steam in regard to railways in time to come, and effect a financial saving in addition to higher mechanical efficiency. 111 years later we are still waiting!

From The Westmoreland Gazette 21/03/1903. (Book of The Century).
The Furness Railway and Electricity.
Mr McKechnie, Managing Director of Engineering Department of Vickers, Sons and Maxim's Works lectured on Wednesday night at Barrow, on Modern engineering. He stated that. Electricity would replace steam in regard to railways in time to come, and effect a financial saving in addition to higher mechanical efficiency. 111 years later we are still waiting!Grumpyoldbiker

From The Westmoreland Gazette 21/03/1903. (Book of The Century).
The Furness Railway and Electricity.
Mr McKechnie, Managing Director of Engineering Department of Vickers, Sons and Maxim's Works lectured on Wednesday night at Barrow, on Modern engineering. He stated that. Electricity would replace steam in regard to railways in time to come, and effect a financial saving in addition to higher mechanical efficiency. 111 years later we are still waiting!

Ipsoregulated

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